Electrically-operated direction signal



' June 4, 1929. H HARADA .41,715,654

ELEcTnIcALLY oPERAIEn DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed June 1'7, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 j Inventor Attorney June 4, 1929. H. H. HARADA 1,715,654

ELECJTRISALLY OPERATED DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed J'une 17,. ,192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Patented .lune 4, 1929.

UNi-'isif siaiss HENRYH. HARADA, OF EAU GALLIE,.`FLORID`A.

Application filed rune 17,

' placed in any one of a plurality of predetermined Vpositions and which normally retains one of said positions in which suitable operating means is provided for moving said arm operable electrically through the operation of a remote control device placed in convenient reach of the operator of the motor ve-v hicle. Y

A further object of the invention is to 'provide a specially constructed operating mechanism for a signal arm of direct signals haviing electro-magnetic meansv energizable to operate the signal arm for signalling purpose with which is lassociated suitable latching Y means adapted to normally retain the sig nal arm ina setposition and which is operable in a predetermined manner bythe oper# ation Vof the electro-magnetic means tovpermit the operation of said signal arm.

The invention further comprehends the provision ofa special mounting structure for theelectro'fmagnetic mechanism while ras the'V structure 'for rotatably supporting the signal arm in order that it may bel assembled or removed from aV protective casing Without re.

quiring the disassemblage of the operative parts ofthe mechanism and `for this purpose 'aspecial mountingmember is, provided and toi-med ofv a'single vpiece ot stamped sheet material in such a Way as to form supporting extensions for the operative parts of the apparatus.

The invention comprehends numerous other objects residing in the details of con'- struction and arrangement vas Well as size and shape of the parts 'which are more particularly, pointed out in the following de scription and claims directed to tlie preferred form of the invention, it being under stood, however, that various changes ymay be lmade in the size, shape and Vari'aiigement of these parts Without departing `from the spirit or scope of theV invention as herein set forth.

'In the drawings forming part of thisv ap`A i plication :E

f i, .EFICEPA 192e. 'serial No. ii'eii'.

.Figure 1 illustratesV a rear elevational view of the improved direction signal.

Fig. 2 is a view of the electromagnetic opwhich the cover plate has been removed,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken` on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, s

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner in which the latcliing mechanism is associated with a projection o-n the rotor structure for operatingv thesignal arm.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the latching mech# -erating mechanism Within the casing from g anism shown in Fig. 4, in which portions of the operating mechanism for the signal arm are shown in dotted lines. ,Y o

' Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the control switch. f Figs. 7 and y8 are en'dfelevations and tr'ans-v verse section respectively of the 'switch mechanism, shown inFig. 6. f l o. Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the contact plate of l i Fig. 8. Fig. Al0' is a wiring 'diagram showing the electricaly connection between the' several parts of the'invention s y y Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of afmotor vehicle showing V.the linvention applied theretol in operativeV relation andillust-rating in Vdotted lines the' operative position of the signal arm. i

"l indicates asuitable vmounting member Whichis formed of a single piece of matei rial having va main base portion 2 fromwhich projects aplurality of angularly airanged extensions 3,' havingthe ends extended laterally 'as indicated 4at 4f in the same direction, and on which are suitably secured the switch mechanism, shown in the stationary electro-magnets arranged in pieces 12 adapted to receivevandhave the.

bearing plates 13 removably secured thereto.

This bearing plate 13 and thebase portion f 2 of the member 1 areformed with alined bearing openings' for', rotatably 4mounting thesh'aft14 therein which is held against endvvise movement by thestructure including the pin 15 engagingjhe Washer 16 ai? one end of the bearing opening formed in the base portion 2, while the nut 17 engages the washer 18 for cooperation with the pin and washer 16 to properly assemble the CIT shaft for rotative movement in the device.

A rotary core member 19 is mounted on the shaft 14 in alinementmvith Y:the pole pieces 20 of the pairs of electro-magnets 5 and 6 respectively, andthisrotary armature 19 carries the electro-magnet 21. at opposite sides of the shaft 14, each one of which is adapted for magnetic cooperation with yone of the pairs' of lele.ctromagnets.;5 and l6 respectively.

This armature rshaftj19. is suitably mounted on the rotary shaft 14 in alinement with the .polepieces 20and .servesto rotate shaft 14 upon energization of the electro-magnets 21 and either pair of magnets 5 or 6v respectively lwhich are selectivelyener gizable. One v end ofk theY armature 19 is providedwith an anchor; bar 22 to the endA portions of which are secured operating springs 23= extending inopposite ydirections and inangular relation, having the free .ends anchore'dtothe rodsr24 mounted in the base portion 2' as clearly illustrated inFig. 2, and i serve -to normally holdrthearmature 19in the operating coils therefor, in the position shown in Fig..2 when the electro-magnets are not energized. This position 1s the nor f mal position of. the-parts of the device in which the signalling arm 25- isy in the posi tions shown inFigsgl and' 11.

' The opposite ends of the armature 19 from that mounting the angle bar 22 carries a depending projection26 terminatingin close proximity with the base` portion 2 between a pair of latching elements gene-rally .indicated by the numerals'27 andi28 .These latching elements 27 andy 28 in the form as shown in thendrawing lare constructed of bell crank levers 29 pivotally mountedv as indicated at 30 in Fig. 5 on' the, baseI |portion 2`of member 1. y bell crank levers carries Van armature` B1 One end of each/ofithese 1 tolimit the movement of thesebell crank 'cient movementin order to insure levers` on their pivots 30,but` permit sufiiproper cooperationfinzthis device. A

,The bell lcranklevers areznormally; .oper- `ated inonedirectionxso as to .normally assume! the i* position i Shown `Vin Fig. 5 by the leafcsspring('positioned between thepins which are ,suitablysecured in thebase 'From the `above description, it will be vunderstood that .when the pair of electromagnets 5 are energized, the latch member 28 will be moved on its pivot..throlurhrl the action of. the. magnetic field offthefelectrosr magnet 5 on armature 31 whichfwill: move the block 524 downwardly -and permit Ithe depending pin '26 to move to the right as shown in Fig. 5 forpermitting .the operation ofthe signal arm 25 and the rotation of shaft 14. The corresponding Aparts' for operation in an `opposite direction areoperated `upon theenergization of apair of electro-magnets6 so that the signal arm,25 can operate in the f opposite idirectionnin which the vlatch lever. `27pm-mitsi litsrclease for movement. -The spring 23 willV always return the signal arm. tothe #position sho-wn in Fig. 1 upon de-energization of the electromagnet.

The mounting member 1 is suitablypositionedV within a casing 37 which isprovided withl suitable lugs/38 to permit its attachment to the motor vehicle as shown inFig. 11 'while a suitable cover plate 39is1removably mounted over the open end ofthe casn ing'37 in order to enclose the operative parts ofthe mechanism aboveA described` inthe manner as shown in Fig.- 3. Thel central portion of the cover B9 is provided with'an opening which receives. the shaft -14f so that thesignalling arm 25 may be-mounte'dfon .the shaftl on the outsidefof the casingfand the cover. The free end' ofthe shaftv 14 beyond theY positions. bounding 'theVV signal arm 25which carries the lamp casingf40 in which is mounted a Isuitable .illuminating -means preferably electric lamps for illuminating J the stop signal 41V andthe taillight'42, while the( arm 25 is provided with aflamp A43 which is illuminated bya suitableelectric lamp the circuit for which will ybe described, hereinafter. f l

In Figs. 6to 9-inclusive, I havelinserted a special switch `construction for Vcontrolling the operation of the signalling device 'above described, in which a suitable' casing -isillustrated at 44 provided with/suitable means indicated at 45 for securing it tol thef steering wheels of a motor vehicle ork atany other suitable point within reach of the( driver, the casing 44 detachably receiving the cover 46. An insulating. plate 47 is mounted within the casing 44and is provided with av eontact l48 which makes circuit with the disk 49 carried' and operated by theswitchhandle 50. This disk 49 also carries a switch'arm 51 of suitable resilient material which is adapted to make contact with any one of the contacts 52, 53 and 54.

The operating lever 50 is provided with a Asuitable stop indicated at 55 in Fig. 6 in dotted lines and operates in a suitable slot in the cover 46 so as to limit the movement of the lever 50.

A suitable bracket 56 is mounted on the cover 39 of the casing of the signal device and is adapted to suitably support a license plate thereon.

Referring particularly to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the pair of electroemagnets 5 are interconnected in series by the wire 57 while one side of the circuit to the electro-magnet extends through the wire 58 to the lamp 59 mounted in signal arm 25 behind the lens 43 which in turn is connected yin circuit through the wire 60 to the terminal 54 on the plate 47. When the switch is in position for the resilient contact member 51 to engage the contact 54, the circuit is then closed to the contact 48 and through the wire 61 to the source of energy 62. The opposite side of the circuit from the source of energy extends through the wire 63 to the armature coils 21 and then through the wire 64 to the other terminal of the pair of the electro-magnets 5, thus completin .the circuit to the electro-magnet so that t e armature coils 21 and the electromagnets 5 upon being energized, will move the signal arm to the right hand position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 for signalling a right turn 'of the motor vehicle equipped therewith. The lens 43 will also be illuminated so as to indicate this operation of the indicator at night.

The circuit for the left hand signalling position of the arm 25 extends from the source of energy 62 to the wire 61 to the switch and when the resilient contact 51 is engaged with the contact 52, the circuit is closed to the wire 65, lamp 66, and then through the wire 67 to one end of the pair of electro-magnets 6 which are connected in series to the wire 68. The circuit then leads from the electro-magnets 6 through the wire 69 to the coils 21 and back to the oppositeterminals of the source oi energy 62 through the wire 63. This will produce the proper operation so that the signal arm will be moved to the left hand dotted line position shown in Fig. 11, for indicating a left turn, the lens 43 in the signal arm being illuminated by the lamp 66. Y

The switch is normally maintained with the resilient contact 51 in engagement with the contact 53 on the insulating plate 47 as a result of which the circuit from the source of energy 62 passes through the wire 61 and to the contact 53. A wire 70 is connected with the contact 53 and extends to the stopv light 71 for illuminating the stop signal 41 the circuit from which extends thru the Wire 72 to a brake pedal control switch indicated generally at 73 from which the return circuit extends through the wire 74 to the opposite terminal of the source of energy 62.

It will thus be seen from this wiring circuit, that when the brake of the motor vehicle is operated to stop the vehicle, the proper signal will be given by the illumina-y tion of the stop signal 41 in the casing 40 through the energization of the lamp 71.

From the above description, it will therefore be clear that the invention provides a novel direction signal construction in which suitable electro-magnetic means serve to' operate the indicating or signalling of arm as well as the latehing means which is normally operative to retain the signalling arm in a predetermined position and prevent its oscillation due to jars or thrusts imparted to it during the travel oit' the vehicle.

The special construction of the mounting member 1 with the bearing plate 13 permits the ready assembly of the operative parts of the construction so that the proper adjustinent thereofmay be made before mounting the same in the casing Vwhich will not i operated direction signals comprising a plate member having a base portion formed with angularly arranged projections with their free ends terminating in lateral projections, a plurality of laterally projecting support-V ing strips formed on and extending from said base portion in spaced parallel relation,

means thereon Vfor securing a bearing plate;

in spaced arallel relation from said base portion, said base portion and said plate providing bearing supports for rotatably mounting a signal shaft.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HENRY I-I. HARADA. 

